West Indies Cricket Board Returns To Previous Under-19 Age Limit (23 April 1998)

April 23 1998

West Indies Cricket Board Returns To Previous Under-19 Age Limit

by Haydn Gill/ NATIONSPORT

ANOTHER AGE mix-up is causing controversy in cricket circles.

The latest scenario, which contains several twists and turns, stems from the embarrassment of the Youth World Cup in South Africa earlier this year when it was discovered on the eve of the tournament that seven West Indians had not met the age stipulation.

In an effort to prevent a recurrence, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Pat Rousseau immediately announced that they were changing the age qualifications for the regional Nortel championship.

The move virtually eliminated several players across the Caribbean who would have been eligible for this year's competition in Trinidad and Tobago from July 8 to 30.

The latest word from the WICB is that it has rescinded its decision, which means that players under the age of 19 on September 1, 1997, will be cleared to play in this year's championship.

Ignorant

But most of the relevant authorities in the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) are ignorant of the move, including selector Jeff Broomes and last season's coach Darnley Boxill.

"We had a board meeting last night (Tuesday night) and as chairman of the development committee, I know absolutely nothing about the reversal. I have not been told anything," Broomes told NATIONSPORT.

"I don't know if communication has gone through the appropriate channels at the BCA and has just not filtered down to me as yet."

When contacted yesterday, Joel Garner, chairman of the Barbados selection panel, said he was aware that correspondence surrounding the tournament's rules had been sent to the BCA's office.

WICB executive secretary Andrew Sealy said that although the change was made, they would be "very conscious" of age requirements whenever a World Cup or any other international tournament was played.

NATIONSPORT first had a hint about the change after there were a couple of whispers during a President's Cup match in Grenada in late February and speculation was further heightened last weekend when the Windward Islands squad was announced.

Included in their team were a couple of players who would have been ineligible had the decision not been changed.

In contrast, Barbados have gone along with their preparations without five players who will still be able to play.

Marlon Graham, their vice-captain and leading run-scorer last year, opener Corey Yearwood, middle-order batsman Shawn Sargeant, wicket-keeper Corey Glasgow and all-rounder Hamilton Chandler have not been included in the training squad and none is aware that he is still eligible.

Scholarship

Graham, one of three Barbadians in the Youth World Cup which ran from January 11 to February 1, is currently on a cricket scholarship in the United Kingdom. The former Combermere schoolboy is now tipped to captain Barbados in his fourth year at this level.

While Broomes admitted there would be some disruption to Barbados' preparations, he said there was some good in it.

"All of our youngsters should be focussing on our Division 1 season (starting May 23), so they should still be focussing on cricket and their development," he said.

"Whereas they were concentrating on adult level, to come back down to junior level may not be that bad for them."

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)